Preschool children from lower household incomes experience inequality in asthma treatment: findings from a Danish nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The obligation to pay for asthma medication in a country with universal healthcare might lead to increased asthma exacerbations and inequitable healthcare access for children from low-income households. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the association between household income and childhood/preschool asthma regarding hospitalization and medication receipt. METHODS: In this nationwide register-based cohort study, we encompassed all 3-year-old children residing in Denmark, born between 2000 and 2014, along with their linked parents and followed them until their sixth birthday. Household income was divided into quartiles. Asthma was categorized in two mutually exclusive groups as either the redemption of two prescriptions for asthma medication or receiving a hospital diagnosis. We utilized Poisson regression to estimate the risk ratio (RR). RESULTS: The analysis included 834 422 preschool children. The prevalence of asthma dependent on medication alone was 7.3%, while 1.8% of children necessitated asthma-related hospitalization. Income inequality was evident across all income quartiles. Notably, children from the lowest income quartile had a RR of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92-0.98) of redeeming asthma medication and conversely a RR of 1.18 (95% CI: 1.14-1.23) of asthma-related hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Despite universal healthcare, income inequality has a dual impact on children from low-income households. They face a diminished risk of redeeming asthma medication and a higher susceptibility to asthma-related hospitalizations indicating an unequal access to healthcare. Prioritizing efforts to reduce childhood health inequalities is crucial. However, further research, particularly qualitative studies, is needed to better comprehend the underlying mechanisms to address the complexities of income inequality.

Inequality in smoking and related risk factors for smoking in expectant mothers - a nationwide Danish register-based study.

AIMS: Foetuses exposed to smoking during pregnancy are disadvantaged due to numerous adverse obstetric outcomes. This study aimed to examine 1) inequality in maternal smoking between subgroups of pregnant women and 2) significant risk factors of maternal smoking. METHODS: Data were collected from Danish registries. Trends in maternal smoking within each study period, T1 (2000-2002) and T2 (2014-2016), were investigated by Poisson regression calculating prevalence proportion ratios, and trends between study periods were studied by adding an interaction term. The significance of risk factors for maternal smoking (low age, low education, living alone and having a moderate/severe mental health condition) were studied by interaction analysis on the additive scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of maternal smoking decreased from 21% in 2000 to 7% in 2016. Decreases were found in all subgroups of maternal age, cohabitation status, educational level and mental health condition. However, large differences in smoking prevalence between subgroups were found, and inequality in maternal smoking increased from 2000 to 2016. The probability of maternal smoking increased with the addition of risk factors, and positive additive interactions were found for almost all combinations of multiple risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide knowledge on risk factors and increasing levels of inequality in maternal smoking which points to a need for targeted interventions in relation to maternal smoking for subgroups of pregnant women in future smoking cessation programmes and in antenatal care.

Children of parents with different severities of mental health conditions have higher risk of somatic morbidity: a Danish nationwide register-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Children with the most severe parental mental health conditions have an elevated risk of numerous adversities including somatic morbidity. However, there is no knowledge concerning physical health in most children affected by parental mental health conditions. Therefore, the aim was to examine the association between different severities of parental mental health conditions and somatic morbidity in children of different age-groups and further explore the combinations of maternal and paternal mental health conditions on child somatic morbidity. METHODS: In this register-based cohort study, we included all children born in Denmark between 2000-2016 and linked parents. Parental mental health conditions were categorised into four severity groups (no, minor, moderate, and severe). Somatic morbidity in offspring was categorised into broad disease categories corresponding to the International Classification of Diseases. We estimated the risk ratio (RR) using Poisson regression, of the first registered diagnosis in different age-groups. RESULTS: Of the around 1 million children in the study > 14.5% were exposed to minor parental mental health conditions and < 2.3% were exposed to severe parental mental health conditions. Overall, the analyses revealed a higher risk of morbidity in exposed children across all disease categories. The strongest association was observed for digestive diseases in children aged < 1 year exposed to severe parental mental health conditions (RR: 1.87 (95% CI: 1.74-2.00). Generally, the risk of somatic morbidity increased the more severe the parental mental health conditions. Both paternal and especially maternal mental health conditions were associated with a higher risk of somatic morbidity. The associations were strongest if both parents had a mental health condition. CONCLUSION: Children with different severities of parental mental health conditions experience a higher risk of somatic morbidity. Although children with severe parental mental health conditions had the highest risk, children with minor parental mental health conditions should not be neglected as more children are exposed. Children with both parents having a mental health condition were the most vulnerable to somatic morbidity and maternal mental health conditions were more strongly associated with somatic morbidity than paternal. More support and awareness of families with parental mental health conditions is highly needed.

Six-year-old children had greater risks of functional gastrointestinal disorders if their parents had mental health conditions.

AIM: This study examined any associations between parents' mental health conditions and hospital diagnoses of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in offspring at the age of six. We also examined any associations between children who met these criteria and attended routine Danish preventive child health appointments. METHODS: Nationwide registers identified all children born in Denmark from 2000 to 2011 and parents' mental health conditions. Negative binomial regression analyses estimated the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of children receiving their first hospital diagnosis for an FGID at the age of six. RESULTS: We identified 750,379 children and 38% had at least one parent with a mental health condition: 24% were minor, 12% were moderate, and 2% were severe. These children faced a higher risk of an FGID diagnosis than children whose parents did not have mental health conditions. The IRRs were highest for maternal exposure: minor (1.35, 95% CI 1.29-1.42), moderate (1.58, 95% CI 1.48-1.67) and severe (1.58, 95% CI 1.38-1.81). Attending routine preventive child health examinations was associated with a higher risk of FGIDs associated with parents' mental health conditions. CONCLUSION: Paediatric FGIDs were associated with parents' mental health conditions, especially mothers, and attending routine preventive child health examinations.

Parental mental health, socioeconomic position and the risk of asthma in children-a nationwide Danish register study.

BACKGROUND: Parental mental illness affects child health. However, less is known about the impact of different severities of maternal depression and anxiety as well as other mental health conditions. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of different severities of maternal and paternal mental health conditions on child asthma. METHODS: This nationwide, register-based cohort study included all children in Denmark born from 2000 to 2014. Exposure was parental mental health conditions categorized in three severities: minor (treated at primary care settings), moderate (all ICD-10 F-diagnoses given at psychiatric hospital) and severe (diagnoses of severe mental illness). The children were followed from their third to sixth birthday. Child asthma was identified by prescribed medication and hospital-based diagnoses. Incidence rate ratios were calculated using negative binomial regression analyses. RESULTS: The analyses included 925 288 children; 26% of the mothers and 16% of the fathers were classified with a mental health condition. Exposed children were more likely to have asthma (10.6-12.0%) compared with unexposed children (8.5-9.0%). The three severities of mental health conditions of the mother and the father increased the risk of child asthma, most evident for maternal exposure. Additive interaction between maternal mental health conditions and disadvantaged socioeconomic position was found. CONCLUSION: We found an increased risk of asthma in exposed children, highest for maternal exposure. Not only moderate and severe, but also minor mental health conditions increased the risk of child asthma. The combination of mental health condition and disadvantaged socioeconomic position for mothers revealed a relative excess risk.

Prevalence of parental mental health conditions among children aged 0-16 years in Denmark: A nationwide register-based cross-sectional study.

Aim: Parental mental health conditions adversely affect the children. Information on the prevalence of parental mental health conditions is needed to help policymakers allocate resources appropriately. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of children with parental mental health conditions in Denmark and further estimate the age-specific prevalence and geographical variation. Methods: In this nationwide register-based cross-sectional study, we included all children born between 2000 and 2016 if they resided in Denmark on 31 December 2016. Information on both maternal and paternal mental health conditions was retrieved from primary and secondary healthcare registers. Parental mental health conditions were categorised in three severity groups: minor, moderate, and severe. We estimated the proportion of children with parental mental health conditions on 31 December 2016. Results: Of the 1,106,459 children aged 0-16 years, 39.1% had at least one parent with a mental health condition. The prevalence increased with age of the children until the age of six years. Geographical variation in the prevalence ranged from 29.0% to 48.3% in the 98 municipalities. Minor parental mental health conditions (23.5%) were more common than moderate (13.5%) and severe parental mental health conditions (2.2%). Hospital-diagnosed parental mental health conditions were prevalent in 12.8% of the children. Conclusions: Two in five children aged 0-16 years in Denmark have parents with a mental health condition and geographical variation exists. The high prevalence of children with parental mental health conditions is an important public health challenge, which calls for attention.

The risk of preterm birth in combinations of socioeconomic position and mental health conditions in different age groups: a Danish nationwide register-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Inequality in preterm birth is a world-wide challenge that has proved difficult for maternity care services to meet. Reducing the inequality requires identification of pregnant women at particularly high risk of preterm birth in order to target interventions. Therefore, the aim was to estimate the risk of preterm birth in women with different combinations of socioeconomic position, mental health conditions, and age. METHODS: In this nationwide register-based cohort study, we included all first-time mothers that gave birth to a singleton liveborn infant in Denmark between 2000 and 2016. The absolute and relative risk of preterm birth (< 37 weeks of gestation) was examined in different combinations of educational level (high, intermediate, and low) and mental health conditions (no, minor, and moderate/severe) in three age strata (≤23, 24-30, and ≥ 31 years). We estimated the relative risk using Poisson regression with a robust error variance. As additive interaction can help identify subgroups where limited resources can be of best use, we measured the attributable proportion to assess the risk that is due to interaction of the different exposures. RESULTS: Of the 415,523 included first-time mothers, 6.3% gave birth prematurely. The risk of preterm birth increased with decreasing educational level and increasing severity of mental health conditions in all age strata, but most in women aged ≥31 years. The highest absolute risk was 12.9% [95% CI: 11.2;14.8%] in women aged ≥31 years with low education and moderate/severe mental health conditions resulting in a relative risk of 2.23 [95% CI: 1.93-2.58] compared to the unexposed reference group in that age strata. We found positive additive interaction between low education and mental health conditions in women aged 24-30 and ≥ 31 years and between age ≥ 31 years and combinations of mental health conditions and educational levels. CONCLUSION: The inequality in preterm birth increased with increasing age. To reduce inequality in preterm birth focused attention on women with higher age further combined with lower educational levels and mental health conditions is essential.

Risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in infants born to mothers with mental health conditions.

INTRODUCTION: Maternal mental health conditions have been shown to affect perinatal outcomes negatively. However, knowledge on the impact of different types and severities of maternal mental health conditions is needed. The objective of this study was to determine the association between maternal mental health status and perinatal health outcomes in the infant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This register-based cohort study included all live-born infants in Denmark born between 2000 and 2016. Exposed infants were grouped based on whether the mothers received mental health care in primary care settings only (minor conditions) or required specialized psychiatric intervention (moderate-severe conditions) within 12 months before childbirth. Modified Poisson regression analyses were applied to produce adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) for each perinatal outcome of interest. The primary outcomes were neonatal mortality, 5-minute Apgar scores <7 and <4 and newborn hospital admission during the neonatal period. Secondary outcomes included several neonatal morbidities such as respiratory distress syndrome and abstinence syndrome. RESULTS: A total of 952 071 infants were included in the analysis; 4.0% had mothers with minor mental health conditions and 2.9% had mothers with moderate-severe conditions. The risk of neonatal death in exposed infants was aRR 1.08 (95% CI 0.93-1.27) for minor mental health conditions and aRR 0.93 (95% CI 0.78-1.11) for moderate-severe conditions. Both exposure groups had increased risks of 5-minute Apgar scores <7 (minor: aRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.16-1.41; moderate-severe: aRR 1.49, 95% CI 1.34-1.66); 5-minute Apgar scores <4 (minor: aRR 1.10, 95% CI 0.93-1.30; moderate-severe: aRR 1.18, 95% CI 0.98-1.43), and hospital admission during the neonatal period (minor: aRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.17-1.23; moderate-severe: aRR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19-1.26) along with several neonatal morbidities. An explicit high risk was seen for abstinence syndrome (minor: aRR 10.30, 95% CI 8.40-12.63; moderate-severe: aRR 12.13, 95% CI 10.17-15.67). CONCLUSIONS: Infants of mothers with moderate-severe and minor mental health conditions were at increased risks of multiple adverse perinatal outcomes. Effective supportive interventions to improve outcomes in both groups are needed.

Parental mental health conditions and use of healthcare services in children the first year of life- a register-based, nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Parental mental health conditions have been associated with increased morbidity and use of healthcare services in offspring. Existing studies have not examined different severities of parental mental health conditions, and the impact of paternal mental health has been overlooked. We examined the association between two severities of parental mental health conditions and use of healthcare services for children during the first year of life and explored the impact of both maternal and paternal mental health conditions. METHODS: This register-based cohort study included all live-born children born in Denmark from 2000 to 2016. Information on socioeconomics, diagnoses, drug prescriptions, and healthcare contacts was extracted from nationwide public registries. Parents were grouped according to severity of mental condition based on the place of treatment of the mental health condition. Negative binominal regression analyses were performed to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of contacts to general practice (GP), out-of-hour medical service, emergency room (ER), and out- and inpatient hospital contacts during the first 12 months of the child's life. RESULTS: The analyses included 964,395 children. Twenty percent of the mothers and 12 % of the fathers were identified with mental health conditions. Paternal mental health conditions were independently associated with increased risk of infant healthcare contacts (GP IRR 1.05 (CI95% 1.04-1.06) and out-of-hour IRR 1.20 (CI95% 1.18-1.22)). Risks were higher for maternal mental health conditions (GP IRR 1.18 (CI95% 1.17-1.19) and out-of-hour IRR 1.39 (CI95% 1.37-1.41)). The risks were even higher if both parents were classified with a mental health condition (GP IRR 1.25 (CI95% 1.23-1.27) and out-of-hour contacts IRR 1.49 (CI95% 1.45-1.54)), including minor mental health condition (GP IRR 1.22 (CI95% 1.21-1.24) and out-of-hour IRR 1.37 (CI95% 1.34-1.41)). This pattern was the same for all types of healthcare contacts. CONCLUSIONS: Both maternal and paternal mental health conditions, including minor mental health conditions, were associated with increased utilization of healthcare services. Focus on both parents' mental health conditions (even if minor) may be warranted in service planning.